Workbench with removable tool support

ABSTRACT

A trestle having a tool support removably fastened for supporting a tool while leaving free the top member of the trestle to support lumbers. The removable tool support is disposed on the side of the top member. More than one tool support can be used with a single trestle. A removable tool support that is intended to be connected to a trestle with a fastener. The tool support having a surface for supporting a tool lower than the top member of the trestle permitting material resting on the top member of the trestle to extend over the tools supported by the tool support. The tool support has a support leg that is retractable or foldable for easy storage.

CROSS-REFERENCE

This application claims priority on U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/580,707, filed Jun. 21, 2004, titled REMOVABLE TOOL SUPPORT FOR WORKBENCH and is included herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to trestles, and specifically relates to trestle extensions that can support tools.

2. Description of Related Art

Construction workers use trestles to support lumbers or panels at an appropriate height. Prior art trestles have a top portion supporting the panels or the lumbers. The top portion is supported by a plurality of legs. Usually, four legs are connected to the top portion. The legs may be foldable thus providing easy transportation of the trestle.

Workers using trestles are using the top portion of the trestle to support the material they need to work with. The top portion of the trestle, normally an horizontal member such as a commonly called 2×4, is therefore not available or unusable to support tools. The size of the top portion is usually too narrow to really be helpful to support a tool. Workers must put their tools on the ground when they need both hands for manipulating material on the trestle. Tools on the ground are subject to dirt or to be hurt by the feet of the worker or contact the bench's legs. Movements needed by the worker to access the tools on the ground are not ergonomic and can promote back pain or other injuries.

Other prior art trestles offer room to support tools within the body of the trestle. Positioning tools within the trestle does not provide easy access to tools when lumbers are positioned on the trestle. The tool support being part of the trestle may add additional weight to the bench when not needed for the work performed with the bench. Moreover, fixed tool support may be cumbersome.

In the past, tool supports for workbenches or trestles have been positioned, as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,875,828, 5,862,731 and 5,592,981, on the top portion. This positioning of the tool support on the trestle precludes any complete use of the top portion to support over sized sheet panel for instance.

Existing tool supports for trestles or workbenches are generally extending higher than the top surface of the top member of the trestle. The tool support is often built into the trestle's top portion therefore not permitting natural positioning of the tools on the trestle further from the trestle's top portion.

Tool supports on trestles are practical when the user uses tools but can become cumbersome when no tools are needed to perform the work.

Consequently, a need has been felt for providing an improved trestle tool support over the existing prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention satisfies the above-described needs by providing an improved trestle over the prior art.

Accordingly, one aspect of one or more embodiments of this invention provides a modular tool support that can be removed from the trestle when not needed. A mechanical connection is made between the tool support and the frame of the trestle. A fastener removably locks the tool support to the trestle.

An aspect of the present invention disposes a removable tool support on a trestle at least partially outside the volume defined by the plane created by the ground contacting portion of the trestle's legs when the trestle is on substantially flat ground, the perimeter of the plane vertically extending to the level of the uppermost portion of the trestle's top member.

An aspect of the present invention disposes a removable tool support on a trestle at least partially inside the volume defined by the ground contacting portion of the trestle's legs when the trestle is viewed from one end of the top member and is on substantially flat ground extending vertically to the level of the uppermost portion of the trestle's top member minus the volume defined between the legs of the trestle when still axially viewed from one end of the top member.

Yet another aspect of the present invention is to disposed the removable tool support on a side of the trestle's top member.

Another aspect of one or more embodiments of the present invention provides a tool support for trestles disposed on the side of the trestle.

Another aspect of one or more embodiments of the present invention provides a tool support that is lower than the top member of the trestle. The tool support is disposed lower on the trestle allows the highest portion of the tool maintained on the support to be lower than the upper surface of the top member.

Another aspect of one or more embodiments of the present invention provides a tool support that leaves free the top surface of the top member of the trestle.

According to a further aspect of one or more of these embodiments, the top surface of the trestle can support oversized lumber without limiting the trestle tool support to maintain tools.

According to a further aspect of one or more of these embodiments, the tool support can support a “skill saw” with the blade perpendicular to the top member and lower than the top member. The tool on the support can be ergonomically aligned for the user of the trestle to use the tool.

According to a further aspect of one or more of these embodiments the tool support can support a “skill saw” with the blade parallel to the top member and lower than the top member.

According to a further aspect of one or more of the embodiments, the tool support maintains the tools needed by the user of the trestle at a constant position thus preventing the user to search the tools.

Another aspect of one or more embodiments of the present invention provides a removable tool support that can be folded to reduce its size when stored. The support of one embodiment of this invention has a frame and a leg pivotably connected to the frame. The leg is perpendicular to the frame when in use with the trestle and can be folded parallel to the frame when stored. The result is a flat tool support to be stored as opposed to the larger volume defined by the frame and the leg in the perpendicular position.

Additional and/or alternative advantages and salient features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, disclose preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to the drawings which from a part of this original disclosure:

FIG. 1 depicts a front side view of a trestle with the removable tool support according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 depicts an perspective rear side view of the trestle with the tool support according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 depicts a closer front side view of the trestle with a removable tool support;

FIG. 4 depicts a tool support side view according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 depicts a front side view of a trestle with the removable tool support supporting a skill saw according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 depicts the tool support removed from the trestle with the leg parallel to the top portion of the tool support;

FIG. 7 depicts a schematic top view showing the external perimeter of the trestle and various tool support dispositions; and

FIG. 8 depicts a schematic elevation top schematic view showing the external perimeter of the trestle and various tool support dispositions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 illustrates a trestle 10 having a top member 12 supported by a first leg 14, a second leg 16, a third leg 18 and a fourth leg 20. The top member 12 is made of wood but could also be made of plastic or other material. Top member 12 is the main contact point between the trestle and the lumber (or other material) to be supported by the trestle. In the illustrated embodiment, the legs can be folded using the axis 22 and the pivot points 24. Connector 26 locks the legs in the opened position thus insuring stability of the trestle. The legs could also be fixedly positioned on the trestle's top member. A trestle with fixed legs would take more storage room because not foldable. It could be appreciated by someone skilled in the art the legs are made of metallic tubing and could be made of plastic extrusion, molded plastic, aluminum extrusion, wood or any other suitable material to maintain the load on the trestle.

Still on FIG. 1, the tool support 30 is shown installed on the trestle 10. The tool support is detachable from the trestle and is maintained in position by contacting points 32, 34 and by a fastener or a latch 36 attached to connector 26. The fastening mechanism could connect another portion of the trestle to maintain the removable tool support tied to the trestle. The tool support 30 is installed on the trestle via the opening 33. Opening 33 provides a passage for the top section 44 of the trestle to surround the legs of the trestle. Once installed on the trestle, contacting points 32 and 34 provide vertical and horizontal support by applying pressure to the trestle's legs 14 and 20. The latch 36 main purpose is to lock in place the tool support and not to hold load from the tool support. The latch 36 could hold load from the tool support without departing from the scope of the present invention. Also, latch 36 maintains the tool support in place such that the trestle 10 can be moved and the tool support 30 keep connected to the trestle. Leg 40 supports the tool support. There could be more than one leg supporting the tool support without departing from the scope of this invention.

Still referring to FIG. 1, the top section 44 of the tool support is disposed lower than the higher portion of top member 12 to accommodate large lumber laterally extending top member 12 over the tool support. Because the top section 44 of the tool support is lower than the top member a tool can be supported on the tool support and not interfere with a plan extending horizontally from the higher portion of the top member 12 (as best seen on FIG. 5).

The tool support could be connected to the trestle using multiple latches, rubber bands, fasteners, springs, clips or magnets. Contacting points 32 and 34 could be made differently provided they offer the contact needed between the trestle and the tool support. Rubber may cover contacting points 32 and 34 to limit vibration transfer or electrical connection between the trestle and the tool support. The tool support is presented in a preferred embodiment disposed on one side of the trestle however, the tool support could be disposed on any side of the trestle without departing from the scope of the present invention. The fastening mechanism can request modifications to accommodate the positioning of the tool support on the trestle; many fasteners are available on the market to fit any requirement.

As depicted on FIGS. 3 and 4, latch 36 is made of a bended steel rod pivotally connected 43 on top section 44. In this embodiment the pivotal motion is provided by a portion of the rod entered into a hole in the tool support's top section 44. The latch engages connector 26 to secure the tool support in place. Other kind of latch engaging other part(s) of the trestle could procure the same effect and still be encompassed by the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows the uppermost portion tool 52 is lower than the trestle's top member 12. Tools can be accommodated on the tool support even if a large lumber resting on the trestle laterally extends over the tool support. Should the top section 44 be covered with a surface, holes can be disposed on this surface to allow the tool to be installed on the tool support and extending through the surface. For instance a drill, to be properly maintained on the too support, must partially go through the tool support.

As best seen on FIG. 6 the removable tool support has a pivot point 42 that permits the leg 40 to be folded parallel to top section 44 thus becoming entirely flat and taking less space when the tool support is removed from the trestle. A bolt 42 pivotably maintains the leg 40 to the top section 44. A spring 70 disposed on the interior side of the pivot and locked by nut 72 ensure a spring loaded motion for the pivotal movement of the leg thus maintaining the leg in the desired position.

Referring to FIG. 7, the trestle's legs 14,16,18 and 20 supporting the trestle in working position are defining, when resting in contact on horizontal and flat ground, an area 60 between the contact point 61 with the ground of the lowermost portion of each leg 14, 16, 18 and 20. The tool support 62 is positioned at least partially outside this area for ergonomic reasons. The worker normally stands in front of the trestle and need to put his tools on the side of the trestle; preferably on the side of his working hand. Several possible tool support positioning are shown on FIG. 7 for different tool positioning requirements. Conventional tool support on a workbench is positioned inside this area—when viewed from the top. Moreover, many removable tool supports could be installed on the trestle without deviating from the scope of the present invention.

For specific work it may be needed to position the removable tool support on the side of top member 12, not in the axis of top member 12 like previously described. FIG. 8 depicts a schematic lateral elevation view of a trestle. An elevation area 76 is defined between imaginary line 75 extending from the higher portion of top member 12 and a vertical imaginary line extending from the ground 80 orthogonal with line 75 and a third line defined by angled trestle's leg 20. The same area on the opposite side of the trestle can be mirrored from the area we defined previously. The removable tool support 30 enters into areas 76 or 78 when installed on trestle 10 and the most useful tool support surface is included into areas 76 or 78. Here again, the use of multiple tool supports on a single trestle is included in the scope of the present invention.

The foregoing description is included to illustrate the operation of the preferred embodiments and is not meant to limit the scope of the invention. Various features of the different embodiments may be combined or omitted without deviating from the scope of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that varieties may be constructed and employed without departing from the scope of the invention, aspects of which are recited by the claims appended hereto. 

1) A trestle comprising: a) Atop member; b) At least four legs connected to the top member; and c) A tool support. 2) The trestle of claim 1, wherein the tool support is removably connected to the trestle. 3) The trestle of claim 1, wherein the tool support is fastened to the trestle. 4) The trestle of claim 1, wherein the tool support substantially extends horizontally from a vertical plan extending from the a side of the top member. 5) The trestle of claim 1, wherein the tool support has at least one leg. 6) The trestle of claim 5, wherein the at least one leg is retractable. 7) The trestle of claim 1, wherein the tool support further defines a surface suitable to support a tool. 8) The trestle of claim 7, wherein the surface has an opening allowing the tool to extend under the surface when the surface is used in conjunction with the tool. 9) The trestle of claim 1, wherein the surface of the tool support is at least 4 inches lower than an upper surface of the top member. 10) The trestle of claim 1, wherein the at least four legs, when rested on leveled ground, define a footprint area, the tool support, when connected to the trestle, substantially extends outside the volume generated by the footprint area vertically extended over the entire height of the trestle. 11) The trestle of claim 10, further defining a triangular volume defined between a first vertical lateral side and a second vertical lateral side of the trestle and wherein the tool support, when connected to the trestle, substantially extends outside the triangular volume. 12) A tool support for use with a trestle comprising: a) A frame defining a surface suitable to support a tool; and b) A connector mechanism maintaining the tool support to the trestle when the tool support is in use with the trestle. 13) The tool support of claim 12, wherein the tool support has at least one additional support member connected to the frame. 14) The tool support of claim 13, wherein the at least one additional support member is retractable. 15) The tool support of claim 14, wherein the tool support and the at least one additional support member form a plane. 16) The tool support of claim 12, wherein the surface of the tool support has an opening. 17) The tool support of claim 12, wherein the connector mechanism further includes a fastener. 18) The tool support of claim 12, wherein the tool support is at least partially made of metal. 19) The tool support of claim 12, wherein the surface of the tool support is at least 4 inches lower than the top member when the tool support is affixed to the trestle. 